Moving down south for college was one of the best decisions I've ever made for several reasons: crazy tailgates, sundresses at football games, southern hospitality, warm weather for a longer period of time... I could go on. I expected all of these things upon my collegiate life change, but I was pleasantly surprised by a drastic change in behavior, specifically boys. After 18 years of moving all over the northeast, to Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont, it only took one semester in southern Virginia to enlighten me into the world of southern gentleman to make me realize what I had been missing all my life. At first, I thought I must be crazy to think that there could be such a change in people... I mean, it's only about 400 miles of a distance; how much change can occur in only 400 miles in a world that spans 24,000?Now that I am well into my sophomore year, I am confident that there must be something in the water. I have compiled my list of favorite attributes that prove why southern boys steal my heart in a way that a northern boy never could.
1) First and foremost, the accent...
I don't know how its produced, where it comes from, why it exists, but I am surely not complaining. I love when they say "y'all" or when they say "good mornin'," — frankly it's a nice break from the "yous" and Jersey accents...
2) They like to drive in the car with country music.
They don't care if the wind gets in their hair. They like to just be with you and put their left hand on the steering wheel and their right hand on your thigh and just sing along with you... OK, I sound like a typical country song, but now I finally know what Thomas Rhett has been talking about. They actually enjoy it. Northern guys don't have anywhere to drive, and they don't want to waste their gas.
3) They are typical southern gentleman.
They open doors for you, and not just building doors... They will get out of the driver's seat to open the passenger door for you. Literally, none of the guys I have dated up north have ever done that. They call your parents "ma'am" and "sir." And at first, as a northerner, you'll be a little taken aback because the thought of a local man doing that is absurd. But it just makes you love them more because it just shows how polite they are and how much they want your parents' respect. Most importantly, they treat you with a different respect than northern men. I honestly can't put my finger on it, but it is clear and noticeable.
4) You'll never go hungry.
They know how to barbecue anything, and they make more than enough for everyone. They usually have a huge family or had great family gatherings, so prepare for a well-cooked meal with four courses and iced tea, of course. He's normally not a picky eater and doesn't need a lettuce wrap to protect his figure.
5) They value family.
I guess southern pride and honor is instilled in young southern men from childhood, but it is clear that southern men value family. They want kids; they want to be great fathers; they want to integrate your family with theirs. They also have this macho-manly-protect-your-family kind of attitude. No one will ever hurt you or anyone you care about while he is around.
